Overview of Apple’s Position
Apple’s App Review Guidelines apply to all platforms running visionOS. Under the section on objectionable content, Apple states that apps may not include “overtly sexual or pornographic material” such as explicit descriptions or displays of sexual organs or activities. Apps used primarily for pornography or prostitution “do not belong on the App Store” . User‑generated‑content apps are required to filter objectionable material and provide mechanisms to report content; apps whose main purpose is to show pornographic content are explicitly disallowed .
Apple has historically enforced a no‑porn stance across its ecosystem. In 2010 Steve Jobs said Apple had “a moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone,” suggesting that users who want porn should “buy an Android phone.” The company’s stance has continued under CEO Tim Cook . Apple declined to comment to Inverse when asked if the Vision Pro policy might change . Thus, the absence of dedicated adult‑content apps on Vision Pro is by design.
Evidence of Demand and User Behaviour
Historical Drivers for VR
Multiple studies show that adult content is a major driver of early VR adoption. A NextPit article notes that a survey in the US and UK found 67 % of VR‑headset owners said adult content was their primary reason for buying VR glasses . Researchers such as Neil Malamuth have long described how home technologies like the VCR expanded because they offered a private way to watch pornography . These historical patterns fuel speculation that spatial computing may follow a similar trajectory.
Evidence from Vision Pro Owners
Despite Apple’s policies, some Vision Pro buyers immediately tried to watch porn on the device. Soon after the February 2024 release, a Reddit user posted “Anyone figured out porn on the Vision Pro?” — the top reply referred to the $3,500 headset as a “$3,500 chastity belt” . The Daily Beast reports that users on the NSFW subreddit for Sex Like Real (a VR‑porn streaming platform) complained that the device was incompatible with 3D porn and some were “outraged” after paying $3,500 . Threads on r/VisionPro and r/OculusNSFW filled with speculation and frustration; the consensus was that the Vision Pro only plays flat (2D) videos through Safari and cannot play the common 180‑degree side‑by‑side VR format . Business Insider summarised that Apple has always banned porn apps, so porn on Vision Pro is limited to web‑browser playback of 2D videos; full immersive porn experiences are unlikely in the near term .
Communities dedicated to adult VR content quickly formed anyway. Inverse notes that just days after launch, a subreddit called r/NSFW_Spatial (later banned) and others like r/VisionProNSFW appeared to share spatial porn created for Vision Pro . Creators and users exchange tips and content through these informal channels despite the absence of official support.
Apple Vision Pro’s Technical and Policy Barriers
WebXR Disabled by Default
A major technical barrier to immersive adult video on Vision Pro is that WebXR, the browser API that enables VR and AR content, is disabled in Safari. Notebookcheck notes that while Safari on the Vision Pro plays flat porn videos like any other browser, Apple blocks the WebXR API by default, meaning standard VR porn websites will not render immersive 3D content . Users can enable WebXR through hidden feature flags, but the process requires nine steps and is described as “convoluted” . AppleInsider details these steps: go to Settings → Apps → Safari → Advanced → Feature Flags and toggle WebXR Device API, WebXR Hand Input, WebXR AR Module and WebXR GamePads Module, then reopen Safari . Because these flags are hidden under Advanced settings, many users may never discover them; the feature remains labeled “experimental,” suggesting Apple does not intend to promote VR porn experiences.
Alex Novak, CEO of Sex Like Real, told The Daily Beast that his platform expected to work in Vision Pro’s Safari browser but found WebXR “completely turned off,” so 3D content didn’t work . Users therefore rely on flat 2D playback until they manually enable WebXR or use other work‑arounds.
Screen Time Content Restrictions
Apple provides Screen Time settings that allow owners or parents to restrict adult websites. The Vision Pro user guide explains how to turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions via Settings → Screen Time and configure allowed apps and content . The restrictions can block adult websites system‑wide, meaning even the Safari method of viewing porn may be limited in households using parental controls.
Development of Adult Content for Vision Pro
Lack of Official Apps
Because of Apple’s strict policies, no pornographic apps have been approved for the visionOS App Store . Business Insider notes that Apple’s ban applies to Vision Pro just as it does to iPhone and iPad . Developers of adult platforms, such as Sex Like Real and VRSmash, have confirmed they cannot deploy native apps. As a result, there is no dedicated VR‑porn app for Vision Pro; the only built‑in video player supports Apple’s proprietary Immersive Video format, which is used for AppleTV+ content, not adult entertainment .
Amateur Content and Sideloading
Despite restrictions, some creators are experimenting with spatial porn. In February 2024, a couple known as Damien and Diana Soft began filming adult scenes using an iPhone 15 Pro in spatial video or by wearing the Vision Pro for point‑of‑view shots. They told Inverse that the Vision Pro made production far easier compared with earlier VR‑porn setups . Because mainstream platforms (Pornhub, OnlyFans) currently do not support uploading spatial video , the Softs distribute their videos by selling downloadable files (HEVC‑MV zipped) through their own website, using payment processors that permit adult content . They reported selling about 80 downloads with minimal advertising, suggesting a niche but existing market .
Another marketing company, Moon VR Player, published guides on how to watch porn on Vision Pro. The site acknowledges Apple’s strict policies but advises users to: (1) enable WebXR in Safari; (2) watch porn websites in private mode; and (3) use Moon VR’s player to convert 2D content into 3D or stream files from a PC or NAS . Their blog offers step‑by‑step instructions, effectively sideloading porn by transferring video files via AirDrop or SMB to play them locally. The company also markets its video player as a way to circumvent Safari’s limitations, though this method still relies on downloading content from outside the App Store. Such instructions demonstrate that work‑arounds and sideloading practices are being shared among users, although they require technical steps and do not circumvent Apple’s policies.
Community Distribution and Platforms
Inverse reports that after the Vision Pro’s release, creators formed subreddits like r/NSFW_Spatial and r/VisionProNSFW to share and discuss spatial porn . Creators distribute files via WeTransfer or direct downloads because mainstream platforms have not added spatial‑video support . VR Smash founder Scott Camball told Inverse that the Vision Pro’s high resolution has increased demand for 8K VR porn, prompting producers to upgrade from 4K‑6K to 8K . However, distribution remains fragmented, and OnlyFans and Pornhub have no immediate plans to host spatial video . Payment processors and web hosting may also refuse adult‑content transactions, as the Softs experienced .
Community and Media Reactions
Media coverage often frames the Vision Pro’s lack of porn as a surprising omission. 404 Media and The Daily Beast referred to the device as a “$3,500 chastity belt,” highlighting early buyers’ disappointment . Dataconomy summarised the situation, citing multiple Reddit posts like “No porn?” and “Us WebXR folks want porn,” and observed that early adopters were “alarmed” to learn that VR porn did not work . Notebookcheck similarly characterised the blocking of WebXR as “spatial porn off by default” and suggested it reflects Apple’s desire to maintain its family‑friendly image .
On tech forums such as Hacker News, some commenters argue that the issue isn’t moral but technical: visionOS does not yet support 180‑degree side‑by‑side video formats, so even non‑adult VR videos are limited . Others believe third‑party video players will eventually enable such formats. Meanwhile, a blog post on Plugged dismissed the idea that VR porn is a “killer app,” noting that people can easily watch adult content on phones and that porn consumption is unlikely to drive Vision Pro sales .
Conclusion
The research shows that there is a substantial interest in using Apple Vision Pro for adult content, but technical and policy barriers significantly limit such use. Apple’s App Review Guidelines prohibit any app featuring pornographic material , and the company disables WebXR in Safari by default . As a result, the Vision Pro only plays flat 2D adult videos via the browser unless users enable hidden feature flags or transfer files manually. Creator communities have developed work‑arounds and are even producing their own spatial porn, but they must distribute content outside mainstream platforms due to restrictions and payment‑processor rules . Media responses often highlight the mismatch between the Vision Pro’s advanced hardware and its inability to deliver immersive porn experiences, while some commentators question whether porn consumption will ever be a major driver of adoption.
In summary, while Apple Vision Pro is technically capable of recording and displaying immersive adult content, the combination of Apple’s strict policies, hidden WebXR settings, limited distribution channels, and parental controls makes it unlikely that official adult apps will emerge. Enthusiasts are creating and sharing spatial porn through unofficial channels, but these practices remain a niche and require technical work‑arounds. Apple’s commitment to a family‑friendly ecosystem and its control over visionOS mean that the Vision Pro is not, at least for now, the mainstream VR‑porn device that some observers predicted.